Method of sealing metal in glass.



No. 872,530. PATENTED DEC. 3, 1907. G. H. ME EKER.

METHOD OF SEALING METKL IN GLASS. APPLICATION FILED APR.18,1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES:

Q,- w A IN VE N TOR A TTORNEY.

PATENTED DEC. 3, 1907.

APPLICATION FILED APR.18.1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTUH WITNESSES 2x4 47. MM

GEORGE E. MEEKER, OF MEDIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD OF SELLING IZETAL IN GLASS.-

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 3, 1907.

Application and ii n-i 18.1907. Serial No. 368.831.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. MEEKER,

citizen of the United States, "and a resident of Media, Delaware county, State of Pennsy vania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Sealing Metal in Glass, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to the sealing of oxidizable metals in glass in a manner to se cpre a tight joint between the metal and g ass.

In carrying out my invention, as described in my Patent number 850,029, dated April 9th, 1907, I have discovered that'there is at times an imperfect sealing of the metal within the glass, and an imperfect adhesion between the metal and the glass, due to the fact that during the sealing operation, when the metal and glass are brought together, that portlon of the glass which is in actual contact with the metal is slightly chilled before the metal and glass assume the same tempera-v ture, the metal being of a lower temperature than the glass during the sealing operation; and due, further, to the fact that there are present, at times, minute quantities of gases between the metal and glass, thus preventing an actual contactof some parts of the metal with the glass. 7

.The object of my present invention is to overcome, wholly or in part, the objections above mentioned, and to provide a novel method of sealing oxidizable metals in glass in a manner to prevent oxidization of the metal and to effect amore perfect adhesion between the metal and glass; and to exclude, wholly or in part, the gases from between the metal andglass, and to effect a very close contact or a .more intimate association of the metal with the glass.

The oxidizable metal I would usually employ 1s a nickel steel or nickel iron, which can e produced having substantially the same coefficient of cat ex ansion and contraction as glass. As is wel known, however, this metal rapidly oxidizes when subjected, in

the presence of air, to the heat necessary for I heat the tubular glass stem to plastic condition and keep the wires cool by any I suitable means or manipulation, such, for example, as the following:I place said wires a j suitable distance from and in suitable relation to the tubular glass stem to be applied to the lamp, and then subject the end otthe stem to heat until it is brought to a plastic condition. This being done, the heating means is removed from the stem, or the stem is removed from the heating means, and the leading-in wires of oxidizable metal are brought to a position within the glass tube, or said tube is brought to a position inclosing the wires, the ends of the wires projecting the required distance from the tube. The plastic end of the glass tube or stem is now, by suitable manipulation, quickly squeezed upon said wires in a manner to inclose and embed the same therein before said wires have had opportunity to become heated to oxidizingtemperature, thereby effecting a tight joint between the wires and the glass. After this has been done. the sealed end of i the glass tube or stem and the wires embedded therein are reheated to a temperature that will cause a more perfect adhesion between the wire and glass; and during the reheating I subject one end of the embedded portion of the wire and the glass surrounding the same, 'to a vacuum or air exhaust; the vacuum or air exhaust drawing out from between the glass and wire embedded therein, wholly or in part, any gases that may be present, and at the same time draw ng the plastic glass into closer contact with the wire. In addition to the last, mentioned step of the process, and while the glass is m a plastic condition from the reheating thereof, I again squeeze the plastic glass upon the wire, and thus eflect a still closer contact and wire.

In the accompanying drawings, I hav illustrated diagrammatically, my method as applied to the stem of an incandescent electric lamp.

6, a suitable distance from the wires, 0, and adjacent a suitable burner, c, by means of which the stem is being heated to plastic condition.

Fig. 2 showsthe glass stem away from the burner and encompassing the wires, and the plastic end of the stem squeezed upon and embeddin the wires therein by suitable devices, d, the parts being seen at right angles to Fig; 1.

amore perfect adhesion of the glass with the 1 Figure 1 shows the wires, (1, and the stem,

, tion of the wires and the glass surrounding the same being subjected to a vacuum or air exhaust While the glass is in plasticvcondi-' tion from the reheating thereof, the vacuum or air exhaust drawing out, wholly or in-part, from between the glass and the wires em bedded therein any gases-that may be present, and at the same time drawing the plastic glass into closer contact with the wires. To effect this step of the process, I connect'the open end of the stem to the open end of a tube, 6, leading to asuitable air exhausting or vacuum producing device, a suitable adapter, f, being-employed to make the connection. I t

Fig. 5 shows theplastic glass being again squeezed .upon the w'ges by suitable devices, (1, after or during the reheating and air exhausting operation. v

I desire it to be understood that, while my present invention is especially adapted for,

use in connection with the manufacture of 1ncandescent electric lamp stems, it is useful for many other purposes; and further, I desire it to be understood that other oxidizable metals than the nickel steel or nickel iron may be employed in carrying out my process.

Having thus'described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The process of sealing oxidizable metal I within glass which consists in heating the therein, substantially; as set-forth.

heat expansion and contraction as the stem,

glass to plastic conditionwithout-heating the metal to oxidizing temperature, and so quickly pressing the plastic glass aroundsaid metal that the metal will be sealed therein and the air substantially excluded therefrom before said metal has become heated to oxi-' dizing temperature; and then reheating the glass and metal-embedded therein, substantially as set forth. I

2. The process of sealing oxidizable metal within incandescent lamp stems, which consists in heating a portion of the tubular stem to plastic condition without heating said metal to oxid izing temperature, a and so quickly pressi the plastic ortion of said stem together t at the meta will be sealed therein and the air substantially excluded therefrom before said metal has become heated to oxidizing temperature; and then reheating the lamp stem and metal embedded 3. The process of sealing oxidizable metal Within incandescent lamp stems, said metal having substantially the same coefficient of which consists in heating a ortion of the tubular stem to plastic .con ition at a oint away from said metal, bringing the tu ular gether, embe metal that the meta they have become-heated to oxidizing tem,

perature-;- andthen reheating the tubular stem and metal: embedded therein, substantially as setforth.

4. The process of sealing oxidizable metal within glass which consists in heating the glass to plastic'condition without heating the metal to' oxidizing temperature, and so quickly pressing the plastic glass around said metal that the metal will be sealed therein and the air substantially excluded therefrom f before said metal has become heated to oxidizing temperature; then reheating the glass andmetal embedded therein, and subjecting one end of the embedded ortion of. the metal and the glasssurrounding the same to a vacuum or air exhaust, substantially as set forth. c

5. The process of sealing oxidizable metal within incandescent lamp stems whichconsists in heating a portion of the tubular stem to plastic condition without heating said metal to oxidizing temperature, and so quickly pressing the plastic portion of said stem together that the metal will be sealed therein and the air substantially excluded therefrom before said metal has'becom heated -to oxidizing temperature; then reheating the lam stem and metal embedded therein, and su jecting one end ofthe embedded portion ofthe 'metal and the stem surrounding the same to a vacuum or air exhaust, substantially as set forth.

6. The process of sealing oxidizable metal within incandescent lampstems, said metal having substantially the same coeflicient of which consists in heating a portion of the tubular stem to plastic condition at a oint away from said metal, bringing the tu ular stem to a position inclosing sald metal, and pressing the plastic portion of the stem toding said metal therein before it has become heated to oxidizing temperaheat expansion and contraction as the stem,

ture; then reheating the tubular stem and metal embedded therein, and subjectin one end of the embedded portion of the meta and the stem surrounding the same .to a vacuum I or air exhaust, substantially as set forth.

7. The process of sealing oxidizable metal within glass which consists in heating the glass to plastic condition without heating the meta to oxidizing temperature, and so quickly pressing the lastic glass around said and the air substantially excluded therefrom before said metal has become heated to oxidizing temperature then reheating the glass will be sealed therein and metal embedded therein, and repressing v the reheated glass upon the metal, substan tially as set forth.

. 8. The-process of sealing oxidizable metal e'meec 5 having substantially the same .coefiicient of heat expansion and contraction as the stem,

which consists in heating a portion of, the

tubular stem to plastic condition at a point away from said metal, bringin the tubular stem to position inclosing sai -metal, and pressing the plastic-portion of the stem together, embedding said metal therein beperature; then reheating the tubular stem 4 and metal embedded therein, and repressing the reheated stem upon the metal, substantially as set forth.

10. The process of sealing oxidizable metal i within glass which consists in heating the glass to plastic condition without heating the metal to oxidizing temperature, and so quickly pressing the plastic glass around said metal thatthe metal will be sealed therein and the .air substantially excluded therefrom a before said metal has become heated to oxidizing temperature then reheating the glass and metal embedded therein, subjecting one end of the embedded portion of the .metal and the glass surrounding the same to a vacuum or air exhaust and repressing the reheatpd glass upon the metal, substantially as set ort ore it has become heated to oxidizing temv 1 1. The process of sealing oxidizable metal Within incandescent lamp stems, which consists inheating a portion ofthe tubular stem to plastic condition without heating said metal to. oxidizing temperature, -and' s0 quickly 'pressin the plastic ortion of said stem together t at the meta will be sealed therein and the air substantially excluded therefrom before said wires have become heated to oxidizing temperature; then reheating the lamp stem and metal embedded therein, subjecting one end of the embeddedportion of the metal and the stem surrounding the same to a Vacuum-or an exhaust, and

repressing the reheated stem upon the metal,

substantially as set forth.-

12. The-process of sealing oxidizablemetal within incandescent lamp stems, said metal having substantially the same coeflicient of heat expansion and contraction as the stem, which consists in heating a portion of .the tubular stem to plastic condition at a oint away from said metal, bringing the tu ular stem to a position inclosing said metal, and pressing the lastic portion of the stem together, 'embe ding said metal therein before it has become heated to oxidizing temperature; then reheating the tubular stem and metal embedded therein, subjecting one end of the embedded portion of the metal and the stem surroundin the same to a-vacuum or an exhaust, an

. re ressing thereheated stemupon the meta substantially as set forth.

In .testimony'whereof', I have hereunto aflixed niysignature.

' GEORGE H. MEEKER.

Witnesses: i

A. O. Wmonnsrnia, A. V. Gnou'rn. 

